Pittsburgh Symphony

Programming a major symphony orchestra's season is no easy task. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's VP of artistic planning, Robert Moir, famously likens it to making sausage. So it's a real boon to the recipe when a few ingredients can be counted on -- even more so when new artists come into the fold.

This weekend presents two in concert, conductor Gianandrea Noseda and pianist Jonathan Biss. Noseda is a top-notch conductor specializing in Italian works, but capable of profundity and flair in any of the standard rep.

His latest collaboration with the PSO begins with an intriguing lesser-known work by Liszt, his tone poem "San Francesco di Paola" from "Legendes." It tells the story of the 15th-century Franciscan friar Paola, who, among other feats, is said to have sailed to Sicily using only his cloak and a walking stick. Mr. Noseda also will lead the PSO in Haydn's Symphony No. 56 before welcoming Mr. Biss on stage for Brahms' magisterial Piano Concerto No. 2. Concerts are 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Hall. Tickets start at $17.50; 412-392-4900.

Make yourself at home

The 2010 Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show opens Friday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Downtown with more than 1,500 exhibits featuring the latest products and services for inside and outside the home.

The CAPA House Band, jazz musicians from the city's High School for Creative and Performing Arts, will again perform near a re-creation of the famous Crawford Grill. This year, the stage will be in the second-floor lobby. The students will perform at 6:30 and 8 p.m. weekdays, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Hours, through March 14, are 4-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $10 adults, $4 for children 6-12, free for children under 6. Admission includes a free two-year subscription to Traditional Home magazine.

Parking is $6 per day at Heinz Field lots, with a free shuttle running throughout the show. Information: www.pghhome.com.

RCBB springs forward

The River City Brass Band begins its Spring Series of concerts tonight with "Appalachian Spring," featuring guest conductor James Gourlay.

The concert of American music classics includes pieces from Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story," the Neal Hefti swing classic "Li'l Darling," and John Williams' work from the "Indiana Jones" films, as well as Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring."

Born in Scotland, Mr. Gourlay has an extensive background in teaching and conducting. He began his music career at age 10 in the school brass band, and being the tallest in the class, was given the tuba to play. He loved the instrument and is now a renowned tuba soloist.

The first of the concert's seven shows begins at 8 tonight at Gateway High School, Monroeville; tickets are $22-$29. The second show will be 8 p.m. Saturday at the Palace Theatre, Greensburg, and tickets are $22-$31. Rounding out the weekend will be a 3 p.m. performance Sunday at the Pasquerilla Arts Center, Johnstown. See the complete schedule at www.rcbb.com.

Free night

The Buncher Family Foundation is footing the bill for free admission to Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History Thursday evenings in March from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Among the exhibitions on display right now are "Whales/Tohora," "Forum 64: Cecil Balmond," "The Artistic Furniture of Charles Rohlfs" and "Caricature, Satire, and Comedy of Manners: Works on Paper from the 18th through 20th Centuries."

Parking is $5 per car after 5 p.m. Admission to programs such as Culture Club is not included. Call 412-622-3131 or visit www.carnegiemuseums.org.

Glass fired

The Pittsburgh Glass Center has been a LEED Gold certified green building since its inception, and it's getting greener with "From the Earth to the Fire and Back," an exhibition that opens with a free artists' reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

The 28 local artists exhibiting create, advocate and comment on the current state of the earth in works that range from Michael Mangiafico's praying mantis to Leslie Kaplan's necklaces made of recycled bottles to Adam Kenney's representation of islands that, lacking political and economic clout, are destined to disappear beneath the sea as a result of global warming. The show continues through June 13 at 5472 Penn Ave., Friendship. For information, call 412-365-2145 or visit www.pittsburghglasscenter.org.

LaBute's 'Mercy'

"The Mercy Seat" by Neil LaBute takes a look at 9/11 from the angle of choosing to start over after a seemingly impossible tragedy. On that awful day in 2001, while cell phones ring as loved ones try to locate them, Ben and Abby explore the choices now available to them.

Will Ben let his family know he's alive, or will he and Abby take this chance create new lives?

The show at Off The Wall Theater, 147 N. Main St., Washington, is directed by Robyne Parrish Friday through March 20, 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 3 p.m. March 7 and 14. Tickets are $20, $10 for 65+ and $5 for students, at proartstickets.org or 412-394-3353; details at insideoffthewall.com.

Irish Fields

Mick Moloney is a not only a professor of Music & Irish Studies at New York University, he also plays it, fronting Mick Moloney's Green Fields of America, performing at the Carnegie Lecture Hall Saturday at 7:30 pm.

The Limerick, Ireland, native, who has lived in the U.S. since 1973, offers a repertoire of slow airs, jigs, reels and hornpipes, accompanied by world champion step dancers.

The music, as heard on "If It Wasn't for the Irish and the Jews," includes love songs, humorous songs, patriotic songs and songs of emigration and settlement.

Opening will be Maho Snaps, featuring three local Irish musicians, Kathy Fallon, Bruce Molyneaux and Mike Hurley.

Tickets are $35 advance; $40 door; $20 (student rush). Call 412-394-3353 or go to www.proartstickets.org.

Superstar for a day

"Jesus Christ Superstar," the musical that started Andrew Lloyd Webber on the road to becoming Sir Andrew and his first mega-teaming with Tim Rice, comes to the Benedum Center for two performances, one day only, with Ted Neeley in the title role. After headlining the first touring company in 1972, Mr. Neeley starred in the 1973 Norman Jewison film version that earned Andre Previn an Oscar nomination for adapting the stage music. It has been revived on Broadway twice, in 1977 and 2000, and now it's back at the Benedum, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $23-$62, www.pgharts.org or 412-456-6666.

Dog days

Henry and his good ol' dog, Mudge, from Cynthia Rylant's series of award-winning children's books, get a song in their hearts in a musical from Pittsburgh International Children's Theater. Henry discovers the joys and responsibilities of caring for a boy's best friend starting at the Byham Theater 2 p.m. Sunday and 10:15 a.m. Monday. The show travels to local schools through next Sunday; check pgharts.org or pghkids.org for details. Tickets: $9.50 or $11 at the door.

• The Pittsburgh Jazz Society, which had been gathering at the now defunct Rhythm House, moves the operation to the Rivers Casino Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. with the Tuesday Night Big Band.

• The Pittsburgh Camerata collaborates with the Carnegie Museum of Art for a program that investigates the connection between visual and aural art, "presenting music that reflects the inspiration and vision of the artist." Among the artists will be painters Renoir, Monet, Cassatt and composers Debussy, Poulenc, and Hindemith. 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Highland Park. Tickets are $20, $10 for students; call 412-421-5884 or visit www.pittsburghcamerata.org.

• PG editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers will be the Happy Hour guest Friday at 7 p.m. at the Andy Warhol Museum. He'll give a slide lecture "looking into a cartoonist's brain," do some live drawing and sign his book "No Cartoon Left Behind." Admission is half-price. For info, go to www.robrogers.com

Critics Andrew Druckenbrod and Scott Mervis talk about music on "The Beat," available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.